Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Jan Shakti chief Uma Bharati today tendered apology at Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri for carrying a pillow to the 12th century shrine.

"Mein kan pakad ke kshyma mangi (I apologised by holding my ears)," Uma Bharati told reporters after she came out of the temple.

Though Bharati entered to the temple along with the local leaders, her security guards were seen carrying a pillow which was opposed by the Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) and a section of priests.

The security person who was carrying the pillow explained to the JTP that the pillow was required by Uma Bharati due to pain on her knee.

The priests, however, opposed it on the ground that no one was allowed to sit on a mat or a pillow before the Lord.

"This was against the age-old tradition of the temple," said Ipsit Pratihary, a priest adding that even presidents of India and prime ministers were not allowed to carry mats to the temple.

As all the devotees were equal before the lord, no one was allowed to sit on pillow or the mat in the temple.

After realising the mistake, Bharati preferred to tender apology for causing hurt to the religious sentiments of people.

"I am extremely sorry for what happended unwittingly," she said.

Source : PTI